the essential
Young farmers and the FDSEA of Haute-Garonne are calling for mobilization throughout the department on the evening of Wednesday, October 16. Since last year’s protests, many believe that the situation has not improved, and has even gotten worse.
A year ago, the anger of the agricultural world was widely expressed throughout the country. Hundreds of demonstrations were organized on the sidelines of the Agricultural Show, until the President of the Republic made a series of announcements to try to calm the anger of farmers.
Almost a year later, it is clear that the situation is far from having improved for many farmers, particularly in Haute-Garonne. It is for this reason that this Wednesday, October 16 from 9 p.m., rallies are organized in each of the 27 cantons of the department. These actions, entitled “We are walking on our heads. But where are we going?”, carried out by the JA 31 (Young Farmers) and the FDSEA 31 (Departmental Federation of Farmers’ Unions), provide for a series of actions such as the reversal and covering of signs in several municipalities as a sign of protest.
“On s’est you feel drawn”
Thomas Klunker is the co-secretary general of the JA de Haute-Garonne. Very angry, he has the feeling of having, like the vast majority of his colleagues, “been taken for an idiot by the government”. He elaborates: “The agricultural world is not doing any better than a year ago when we were given great promises. Today, the reality is that we are buying our cereals at prices that are still lower, that we are forced to meet ever more standards and that ever heavier administrative tasks are imposed on us. We have been led for a ride, so we will be forced to show our teeth.”
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Among the expectations of farmers who should be numerous to mobilize this Wednesday almost everywhere in Haute-Garonne, a reduction in administrative burdens is therefore called for, even if the unions do not have “too many illusions”. Also, a desire to quickly resolve “the problem of standards which create unfair competition” was clearly expressed.
And Thomas Klunker warns: “This is only the beginning of the actions. We felt betrayed and it’s hard now to have a reasonable speech on our side. The situation can quickly get out of control. When you know the number of farmers who, at best, will go out of business, and at worst, will try to end their lives, all because they can no longer make a decent living from their profession, it’s hard to stay calm .”
